God, destiny, Griezmann: Atletico target rare Copa del Rey success
French forward Antoine Griezmann would love to leave Atletico Madrid this summer with one or two trophies in the bag (Oscar DEL POZO) No sooner had Atletico Madrid eliminated Barcelona from the Champions League than their fans turned their attention to Saturday's Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad. "We'll give everything to win the cup -- spirit of '96'," read a banner they unfurled, harking back to Atletico's historic La Liga and Copa double 30 years ago under Radomir Antic. Atletico coach Diego Simeone had a similar idea to the fans.
There was no time to celebrate downing the Catalans, even if Antoine Griezmann said he was craving "a cold beer". "(The joy) was short-lived because Cholo (Simeone) cut us off a bit," explained the Frenchman, who is desperate to leave the club with a farewell trophy -- or ideally two. Griezmann, 35, Atletico's all-time top goalscorer, is leaving for MLS side Orlando City at the end of the season, and Simeone said he would love for the forward to depart with his ambitions fulfilled.
"I hope that God and destiny give him what he's looking for in the time he has left in the game," said the Argentine coach. "We'll only realise over time that we had and still have a football genius. " Griezmann flirted with an early exit from Atletico in March but with the Copa del Rey and Champions League trophies still on the line, he could not bring himself to depart.
"(Playing in the Copa final) is my dream, my objective, and I hope we can do something big," said Griezmann a few weeks ago when announcing that he would stay until the end of the season. The forward has been one of Simeone's most reliable soldiers during his long reign in the Spanish capital. "I've been here 14 years at the club and I never stop getting emotional," said Simeone after reaching the Champions League semis.
"I told the players when the game ended -- thank you, thank you. I'm completely grateful as a coach for the way they play, for their drive, for their heart, for the belief we have, for what we do. "And now rest, rest, because on Saturday we have a very important match.